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bibliobeccas_bookshelf's review
fast-paced
3.0
I binged this in a day. I really loved the concept and devoured it. It had a good balance of spice and plot but I feel that the enemies to lovers trope moved to quickly, more conflict could've really built the tension before they got to jumping each other's bones. The book was pretty short, so there was definitely room for more world building and more descriptive writing, since it was so short there was also a lot of unanswered questions. Helen Scheuerer really has a way of sucking you into the world and I've already ordered the next 3 books in the Fate & Furies series.
nicholle91's review
4.0
3.5 โจ definitely read this book in between #2 and #3 of legends of Thezzmar for best understanding. I really enjoyed learning about Talemir and how he met and came to love his wife, Drue. It was also great to learn about the other characters briefly mentioned in book #2 - Terrence and Dratos. Itโll be interesting to see how they tie into the final third book!
I didnโt feel compelled to rate the book higher as there seemed to be some smut for the sake of smut and it got a little tiring/distracting from the story line.
I didnโt feel compelled to rate the book higher as there seemed to be some smut for the sake of smut and it got a little tiring/distracting from the story line.
covetedbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
โ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ค๐ง, ๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐ฃ? ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ข ๐ค๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ค๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ๐จ. ๐๐ค๐ช ๐ฅ๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ.โ
Yโall. I was not ready for this book. It was a fantastic read, and the world building was amazing. I adored Talemir and Drue so much, and they were such a kickass duo. Not to mention that the side characters were also written really well. It is a new adult romantasy book, and the spice was well written and wasnโt overly cringey like most spice scenes. The spice didnโt take away from the intriguing plot either. Iโm glad I started 2024 off with this gem of a book. Iโll post the synopsis + trope list in the comment section.
Yโall. I was not ready for this book. It was a fantastic read, and the world building was amazing. I adored Talemir and Drue so much, and they were such a kickass duo. Not to mention that the side characters were also written really well. It is a new adult romantasy book, and the spice was well written and wasnโt overly cringey like most spice scenes. The spice didnโt take away from the intriguing plot either. Iโm glad I started 2024 off with this gem of a book. Iโll post the synopsis + trope list in the comment section.
nyxesss's review
4.0
Characters 8
writing 9
plot 6.5
entertainment 8
7.9โ
The writing is so fun because through easter eggs we learn that the book takes place in the same world as another book she wrote because there are the same enemies and some characters in common. the MMC in this book was the mentor of the MMC in the other book and we also see him when he was younger in this book. We also hear about the owner of a network of bars in the world, in this book he was just mentioned but in the other we meet him.
And we learn that MMC is reading about people that exist in another trilogy of hers and that's how we learn that the books are probably in the same universe. Then we learn that they drank wine from the same people from his book that exists in this trilogy. And the MMC said that the wine came from 'Valia, in the Upper Realm'.
So what we learn from all of this is:
1. that the book Slaying the Shadow Prince and the book Blood & Steel are in happening in the same world but Blood & Steel happened after Slaying the Shadow Prince
2. The world of these two books is parallel / separated by the mist or the vail(?) from the world of the Oremere Chronicles trilogy and that people crossed between the worlds because how else there would be storys about the The Valian Kindred, and their wine would be brought to anther world?
And I loved that his favorite book is Beauty and the Beast
writing 9
plot 6.5
entertainment 8
7.9โ
The writing is so fun because through easter eggs we learn that the book takes place in the same world as another book she wrote because there are the same enemies and some characters in common. the MMC in this book was the mentor of the MMC in the other book and we also see him when he was younger in this book. We also hear about the owner of a network of bars in the world, in this book he was just mentioned but in the other we meet him.
And we learn that MMC is reading about people that exist in another trilogy of hers and that's how we learn that the books are probably in the same universe. Then we learn that they drank wine from the same people from his book that exists in this trilogy. And the MMC said that the wine came from 'Valia, in the Upper Realm'.
So what we learn from all of this is:
1. that the book Slaying the Shadow Prince and the book Blood & Steel are in happening in the same world but Blood & Steel happened after Slaying the Shadow Prince
2. The world of these two books is parallel / separated by the mist or the vail(?) from the world of the Oremere Chronicles trilogy and that people crossed between the worlds because how else there would be storys about the The Valian Kindred, and their wine would be brought to anther world?
And I loved that his favorite book is Beauty and the Beast
klaudia_g's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I actually really enjoyed this book. Great to read as a stand alone if you need a quick little fantasy. Loved the romance and the spice. Loved the banter. Quite fast paced but still really had a good time with this one.
abigailhall's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
maddy6688's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dwon_reads_a_lot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Boy does this explain a lot and Iโm happy I was recommended to read this before going into the third book of The Legends of Thezmar series. I think this is going to help a lot with some interesting explanations of the MMC and his actions.
angelalibrosymiscelaneas's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Slaying the Shadow Prince is a fantasy romance novel where our protagonists will have to face their fears and biases to work together. Could a monster be more than evil?
Drue Emerson is a ranger in the fallen Kingdom of Naarva and will not be stopped in her fight against the shadow wraiths that are devastating her home. Luckily, she had access to the kingdom forge and had created a steel cuff that could sense those beings. To her surprise, when two swordsmen arrive, she realizes one of them is a shadow wraith.
Talemir, Warsword of Thesmarr, has been cursed with this new nature after a battle against the wraiths and is desperate to get rid of this dark secret. But Drue won't back down, she is sure he has an obscure plan and won't even let him breathe.
Reluctantly, our two protagonists will embark on their adventure together to solve the mystery of the manipulated steel source and save those whom Drue love the most.
Talemir, Warsword of Thesmarr, has been cursed with this new nature after a battle against the wraiths and is desperate to get rid of this dark secret. But Drue won't back down, she is sure he has an obscure plan and won't even let him breathe.
Reluctantly, our two protagonists will embark on their adventure together to solve the mystery of the manipulated steel source and save those whom Drue love the most.
As an avid fantasy and romance reader, and I'm always looking for new interesting titles, so when I read the synopsis of this novel, I got very excited. At that time I was about to read Slaying the Vampire King by [a:Carissa Broadbent|16170636|Carissa Broadbent|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1574549177p2/16170636.jpg], another novel of these monsters lovers series, and I was ready to dive into this series head first.
Then the reality hit me: They are not independent stories.
Such an important aspect of this book is not advertised. Yeah, it's a standalone, but it happens in another series universe.
WHY IS THIS NOT BEING TOLD IN THE SYNOPSIS? This is a side novel of the series The Legends of Thezmarr and for that reason, it doesn't develop into a full standalone novel! I was full of disappointment, and I hardly finished it.
Then the reality hit me: They are not independent stories.
Such an important aspect of this book is not advertised. Yeah, it's a standalone, but it happens in another series universe.
WHY IS THIS NOT BEING TOLD IN THE SYNOPSIS? This is a side novel of the series The Legends of Thezmarr and for that reason, it doesn't develop into a full standalone novel! I was full of disappointment, and I hardly finished it.
The story had potential, and I'm always in the mood for this kind of romantasy books with the tropes mentioned in the blurb. And even if this book gave both fantasy and romance, it wasn't compelling enough, and I became quite bored while listening to it.
It felt so plain. I don't know exactly why, but everything about it felt clichรฉ, not developed enough, and lifeless.
I expected the stakes to be higher, and to be a more dramatic love story due to their situation. But they have it quite easy: the fact that he is a shadow wraith hardly affects their romance and it doesn't feel like it makes their journey even a little bit harder. Where is the angst this situation would bring? Where is the internal conflict? WHERE IS THE FLAVOR???
As characters, Drue and Talemir could win an award for "uninteresting and unoriginal characters" without the bat of an eye. Not only they didn't bring anything new to the table, but they hardly felt to have a purpose. Just a bunch of characters playing in a vague fantasy setting, not well enough explained because it is part of another existing series!
It felt so plain. I don't know exactly why, but everything about it felt clichรฉ, not developed enough, and lifeless.
I expected the stakes to be higher, and to be a more dramatic love story due to their situation. But they have it quite easy: the fact that he is a shadow wraith hardly affects their romance and it doesn't feel like it makes their journey even a little bit harder. Where is the angst this situation would bring? Where is the internal conflict? WHERE IS THE FLAVOR???
As characters, Drue and Talemir could win an award for "uninteresting and unoriginal characters" without the bat of an eye. Not only they didn't bring anything new to the table, but they hardly felt to have a purpose. Just a bunch of characters playing in a vague fantasy setting, not well enough explained because it is part of another existing series!
The book is sold as an enemies-to-lovers story, with the found family trope and forced proximity. And I have to ask... Is that found family here with us? 'Cause last time I checked, having each protagonist a friend didn't count as that trope. Not to get me started with the whole "enemies", because at this point I know it's sometimes used lightly, and...well, there are worse things out there that we can complain about.
The best part for me, and the reason I gave this two stars instead of one, was the audio. In particular the performance of Islay Jacobs, who worked magnificently in this narration, creating an essence for every character. Chase T. Walker also did a great job by voicing Talemir and narrating the story, and the dual POV narrated by different people was a nice touch to keep the listener invested.
In conclusion, I loved the work the narrators put into it and couldn't enjoy the story. I would not recommend this book unless you are reading the series it came from and I will not pick any other book from this series of Mortal Enemies to Monsters Lovers.
--------------------
Star rating: 2/5 General Rating: 3.5/10
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review